i really enjoy master chef….i think i really get why, and it’s not just for the food porn

I’m not a big TV watcher, I’d rather watch TED talks or funny youtube skits. If you haven’t seen Amy Schumer, do yourself a favour!!

BUT there are a couple of shows I DO like.

One is Masterchef. I know. Eye roll for some. Crap TV for some. I get that we all have different ‘tastes’. Ha! See what I did there?

Anyway, it struck me this morning that life is a bit life Masterchef.

On Masterchef, people who have a passion for food (life) and just want to create the best food (life) they can. To be of service to others. That others may enjoy their creative expression.

They get given challenges where they have to turn the most obscure ingredients (situations) into something delicious. Sometimes, make something out of almost nothing. Sometimes, out of crap ingredients. Sometimes they get to choose ingredients. Sometimes they just have to make do with what they have. Sometimes they muck it up completely. Sometimes they come out on top. Sometimes they surprise themselves with what they can do. Sometimes they laugh. Sometimes they cry. But they are in the game to create!

And they do.

Every time they lift the lid on the surprise ingredients, the mystery box, they have to create something great.

They could throw their stainless steel bowls around and say, “I didn’t ask for these ingredients. I’m out” They could absolutely choose that. In the time I have watched it, not one has.

They could look across at the ingredients that the others have gotten and thought how unfair it is and walked out. But they don’t.

They could tantrum about how crap it all is. But they don’t. They roll their sleeves up and get in there!

I find it fascinating. Their love of wanting to create something amazing is so strong that NO MATTER what ingredients they are delivered up, they work to create something amazing.

They get knocked down. Told their creations don’t cut it. Some have to leave to create somewhere else. They have to compete and collaborate with other creatives. Each inspiring each other to be better cooks.

Recently, I have been given some health news both for my mother and for me and it has thrown me a little. Only a little. Because here is what I do believe strongly.

I want to live a full and creative life. And life knows this. I ask life to offer me up new and interesting ingredients that I may use to make a rich tapestry of life. So, when the universe stand on the other side of the bench and lifts the lid on the ingredients I have to work with, I have a choice.

The lid has been lifted on the mystery box and all the ingredients are not ideal. I gotta say. Not pretty some of them. Not entirely sure what I can create with them, but here’s the thing.

I can be excited about what I may learn, what I may create, what I may be able to go on and share with others OR I can put the lid on the ingredients and I can walk away. Miss the opportunity to use these beautiful, diverse, unusual ingredients to create an even fuller, richer experience. AND eventually, the ingredients will go off and rot.

Ahhh. Thank you Masterchef.

I step up to the bench, and am committed to make something beautiful about whatever ingredients I am given. Some I choose, some are given to challenge me.

Oh and the other thing I love, is that my husband secretly enjoys it too..so we share the experience together AND he has actually started to cook some stuff. SO good stuff too!